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Halotydeus destructor
Redlegged earth mites are perhaps the most important invertebrate pest species in Australian agriculture. They attack a variety of crops and pastures, including cereals, oilseeds, legumes and fodder crops. They can also survive on a variety of weeds, particularly broad-leaved weeds. Adults are 1 mm long and have eight red-orange legs. Adults and nymphs have a velvety black body. Newly hatched mites are pinkish-orange with six legs and are only 0.2 mm long. Mites are active from autumn to late spring and are found in southern Australia, but not in northern NSW.
